Clamp



Sept. 13, 1932. w. E. MERRYMAN I CLAMP Filed Nov N H v M Y R m N 5 W Patented Sept. 13, 1932 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM ESTEL'MERRYMAN, F RICHMOND, INDIANA CLAMP Application mednevembere, 1931. Serial No. 573,931.

The object of my present invention, broad- 1y speaking, is the provision of a, clamp which is simple in its construction, positive in actlon, easily operated andadjusted, and which can be manufactured and sold at a compara tive low price, and which will not mar or tear any article to which itmay be attached.

More particularly stated, my object-is the H provision of a clamp particularly intended for grasping textiles and holding them securely without dangerof inju'ry'thereto.

A particular example of the utility of my clampis, as shown in the accompanying drawing, for holding bed-clothes in place, be-

ing especially applicable for children; and it is also useful for safe-guarding children at,

play, by retaining the child within certain limits of action. It is also contemplated I that the principles of my device'may be 'einployed in factories in connection with stretch- 'ing fabrlcs, or other materials; and for var ous other purposes to which it may be found applicable. 7 n

Other objects and particular advantages of my invention, will suggest themselves in the course of the following description, and

that which is new will be correlatedin the appended claims.

manner is shown in the accompanying draw-J ing, in which'Figure '1 is a topv plan yie'w' of my complete clamp, showing it 'eng'ag ing position. Figure 2 1s a side elevation of 5 the same. Figure 8 is aside elevation of the, clamp, butshowing it inopen'or disengaging And Figure tis atop plan, show- V i which it isintegral. The jaw 9 merges into position. mg the clamp in actual practice.

Similar indices designate like parts 4 througl'iout the severalviews of the one-sheet of drawing. 5

In order that the construction, the operation, and the several advantages ofimy invention may be more fully understood and appreciated, I will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which I will set forth the same as comprehensively as I may. My

clamp includes the axle 1, which has the heads 1 and 1 formed on the respective ends thereof.

Onemanner of carrying outthe principles of my invention in'an. efficient and'pract cal The main member of my clamp is formed of a single length of material, such as Wire, comprising the main arm, or handle, 2 whose free'end portion forms an eyelet 3'. At the inner terminal of the arm 2 the material of the main member forms a helix 4, which" closely encircles the axle 1, with the end thereof, with which the arm 2 merges, con-' tacting with the'headla, and with its other end extendingto the center of the axle 1.

From the inner end of the helix lthe said main member projects forwardly,'oppositely tothe arm 2, in an almost complete circle thereby formingv the jaw 5, which'is on the same plane as the arm2, and it is indirectly integraltherewith.

The auxiliary, or secondary, member of my clamp is formed by a single'length of material, comprising the secondary arm 6, whose free end portion forms an eyelet 7 At the inner terminal of the arm 6 the material of the auxiliary member forms the helix 8, which I is identicalwith the helixlbut is oppositely inclined with relation thereto, and it also encircles the axle 1 with the end thereof. with which the arm 6'merges, contactingwith the head 1*, and with its other or inner end contacting With the inner end of the helix 4. I

From the inner end of the helix 8 the auxiliary member projects forwardly, oppositely tothe arm 6, an d forms a spiral, comprising twov or more convolutions, the outermost of which forms the auxiliary jaw 9, which issubstantiallyfconcentric with the 5, with which it is adapted to articulate with proper occluslon; Saidauxiliary aw Sis located 1n thesame plane as that of the arm 6,w1th

the convolutions 10 and 11, for instance, the latter being in the nature of anapertured head, which is concentric with thej aws 5 and 9. The said convolutions 10 and 11 project gradually through the circular jaw 5, when the two aws are in contact with each other that is to say,when'the arms 2 and 6 are, locked together, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4L Numeral 12 designates a securing line,j

formed of any suitable material, such for in? stance as fabric or textile." Said line is at-? tachedtothe eyelet 3,an'd is of any desired length, whereby its free end may be attached to some reatively stationary member, such as the post A, or the like.

In this instance said line 12 is formed doublc, with its central portion looped in the eyelet 3, and with its end portions tied around the post A, as is shown in Fig. 4.

Letter B denotes a fragment of a blanket, or cloth, or clothing, or any other material or element to which my clamp is applicable.

In practice my clamps may be employed I as shown in Figure l.

In placing the clamp in position the jaws are to be opened, as in Fig 3, the edge porticn of the blanket B, for instance, is then placed between the aws 5 and 9. I next press the arms 2 and 6 toward each other, sprirging them slightly apart until the eyelet 7 comes under and into engagement with the arm 2, where it will be automatically retained by the resilient spring of the arm 6.

In bringing the parts to closed position, as just mentioned, it will be evident that as the aws 5 and 9 move toward each other the blanketrwill be grasped, and by reason of the h ad formed by the eonvolutions 10 and 11, the material of the blanket will be bent into connection with the jaw 5 forming a pocket in the material, and at the same time the material will be grasped between the jaws 5 and 9 in such manner that it will be firmly held, but with the strain on the blanket so broadly distributed, without the blanket being in contact with a sharp angle, or points, that the danger of damaging the blanket or to an article of furniture, or to a person, will be practically nil.

I have found, by experience, that my clamp is especially applicable to retaining bed-clothing in position on a bed, in which instance I employ two or more of my clamps in connection therewith. l have also found my clamp to be applicable for limiting the movements for small children, in which instances I employ a longer cord 12, than that shown, fastening one end thereof to a post or an article of furniture, with the clamp proper locked into engagement with the childs clothing.

I desire that it be understood that various changes may be made in the shape, in the material, and in the uses of nay invention, from that shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A clamp comprising a main member formed of a single piece of material and forming an arm, a circular jaw remote from the arm, and a helix located between the aw and the arm; an auxiliary complementary member formed of a single piece of material and forming an arm, a circular jaw remote 1 from the last mentioned arm, a cup-shaped spiral forming a continuation of the aw of the auxiliary member and adapted to pass through the space encircled by the jaw of the main member when the two jaws are in occlusion and a helix located between the jaw and arm of the auxiliary member, an axle extending through both the first and the second mentioned. helix, and means whereby the two arms may be detachably locked together to cause said aws to normally contact together.

2. A clamp comprising a pair of wire members, an axle on which both of said members are rotatably mounted, one of said members comprising an arm,a circular j aw, and a helix located between the inner end of said arm and said jaw, with said helix encircling said axle; the other one of said members comprising a relatively short arm, a spiral the outer convolution of which forms a jaw adapted to occluse with the first mentioned jaw, and a helix located between the shorter handle and said spiral and encircling said axle; the shorter arm being adapted to detachably interlock with the longer arm to hold said jaws in clamping relation to each other and with the inner eonvolutions of said spiral projecting out of the plane of said arms whereby they will project through the first mentioned jaw when said arms are locked together.

3. A clamp comprising two sections of material each of which provides an arm, a helix integral with each arm and a circular jaw integral with each helix, each of said jaws being in the same plane as its respective arm but with each helix extending at substantially right-angles to its respective arm, a shaft on which both of said helixes are mounted, and a spiral forming a continuation of one of said jaws and adapted to extend through and beyond the other jaw when the two jaws are brought into occlusion with each other, to form a pocket in the material being clamped.

l. A clamp formed of two sections of wire hinged together by an axle, each of said sections including a handle member, a. helical portionencircling said axle, a circular jaw formed in the same plane as its respective handle member, said aws being adapted to be secured in contact with each other by interlocking said handles together and a centerwardly tapering convoluted member forming a continuation of one of said jaws and projecting through the other j aw-when the two jaws are in occlusion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to this specification,

WILLIAM ESTEL MERRYMAN. 

